Hampton, Gray lead campaign spending

Commissioner candidates Les Hampton and Tom Gray have raised the most money for their campaigns, according to the first financial reports of the county campaign season.

All the commissioner candidates but Michael Anthony made the deadline to file finance reports with the Moffat County Clerk and Recorder's Office.

Lila Herod, elections chief, said she would notify Anthony, a deputy with the Moffat County Sheriff's Office, that he missed the deadline. She then has the option of fining him $50 a day until he files, though she said she has seldom done that.

Commissioner candidates don't usually actively seek donations, although they sometimes host campaign fundraisers, Herod said. Most of the contributions come from individuals interested in supporting a particular candidate.

Hampton, who is seeking re-election to District 1, reported raising $8,450 as of Tuesday. But that amount includes donations made to his election committee while he fought a campaign to recall him and Commissioner Marianna Raftopoulos earlier this year.

Ten people have donated to Hampton's campaign, and he put $7,500 of his own money into his campaign. He has spent $7,439 of his campaign funds.

Tom Gray, the owner of a small cow-calf operation north of Craig, has raised $5,045 for his campaign from nine contributors. Gray has put $3,460 of his own money into his campaign. So far he has spent $3,203, and most of the money has been spent at Identity Graphics and Sign Source, both of Craig.

Gray will run against Hampton for the Republican nomination.

Saed Tayyara, former Craig mayor, has collected $4,197 from eight contributors. He has spent $2,594. He will run against Michael Anthony for the Republican nomination for District 2. Primary elections are Aug. 10.

Terry Carwile, a coal miner at Trapper Mine, reported late Tuesday that he had raised $175 so far. That includes a $25 donation from Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa, who is running for election for the 3rd Congressional District. Carwile, the only Democrat in the race, is running for the District 1 commissioner seat.

Stan Hathhorn, the owner of Magnum Metals of Craig and an independent candidate for District 2, reported he had not yet raised any campaign contributions. Because he is independent, Hathhorn does not need to participate in the primary election.

Rob Gebhart can be reached at 824-7031 or rgebhart@craigdailypress.com.